An Essay on Gypsies. 343 



Different writers have assigned to these people a very different 



origin — one 



another from Zan- 



man 



• — one from Mount Caucasus; — one considers them as Ger- 



and others bring them from Egypt, Colchos, the Uk- 



raine, &c. 



We know of but three writers who have placed this question in a 

 true point of view. The two first, whose opinion is admitted by the 

 learned generally are Grellmann and David Richardson who consider 

 India as the cradle of the Tzengaris ; the Abbe Dubois places them 

 among the Kouravers of Mahissoun, but in our opinion the country 

 of the Mahrattas is their original position, and there they are still 

 found united in tribes. 



* 



The primitive tribes of the Tzengaris is a subdivision of different 

 tribes of Parias or men out of caste. The origin of Parias is very 

 ancient. This sub-caste is formed by the union of individuals driven 

 from different castes for offences committed against the religion and 

 laws and includes a great number of tribes, among whom may be 

 reckoned the Vallovvers, the Chakilis, the Moutchiers, &c. and 

 lastly the Tzengaris the primitive tribe of our Bohemians and Egyp- 

 tians or the Zingari of the nations which term still resembles the ori- 

 ginal name. 



The tribe of Tzengaris, called also Vangaris on the coast of 

 Concan and of Malabar is nomadic. I have met them often in whole 

 bands near the ancient and magnificent city of Visapour and in thq 

 vincinity of Bangalore and Mahissour, which we call Mysore, from a 

 habit of disfiguring eastern names. They are in general of a dark 

 complexion which justifies the Persian appellation of black Hindoos. 

 Their religion, institutions, manners, and language, differ from those 

 of other tribes of Hindoos. During a war they are addicted to pil- 

 lage, carry provisions for the armies, and fill them with spies and 

 dancers. During peace they make coarse stuffs, and deal in rice, 

 butter, salt, opium, &c. Their women are as handsome and agree- 

 able as the generality of Hindoos, but are very lascivious. They 

 often carry off young girls whom they sell to natives and Euro- 

 peans. They are accused of immolating human victims to their 

 Demons and of eating human flesh. They every where follow the 

 trade of errand runners and procurers ; the women are fortune tel- 

 lers, a business which they practice by striking on a drum in order 

 to invoke the Demon, then pronouncing with the air of a sibyl and 

 with rare volubility a string of mystical words, and after having ga- 



